It's crunch time!

We've helped you narrow down the field to the seven essential things you need to look for in a mutual fund. A quick recap -- look for funds that have:

No loads

Turnover of no higher than 50%

Expense ratio below 1.75%

A manager with a proven track record of outperforming the S&P 500

A manager with a sound investment philosophy

A manager with a long tenure

A manager with a sound investment philosophy

So how do you get at this information? It's easier than you think. Here are some ways to get started:

If you haven't read through our series on picking the right mutual fund yet, do it now. You'll find plenty of ideas on going about evaluating funds you like.

Take advantage of our Motley Fool Champion Funds newsletter service to learn more about what makes a great fund. Our fund experts do a lot of your work for you, going through thousands of funds to find ones with the best potential for profits.